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One lesson of the World Cup is that any bar with a big TV and a critical mass of fans can become a sports bar. But the recently opened Real Sports Bar & Grill (15 York St., 416-815-7325) at Maple Leaf Square, by the Air Canada Centre, truly ups the game on this city’s sports-viewing landscape. It can best be described as a massive cathedral to TV sports viewing.

TVs are far as the eye can see: With over 25,000 square feet and 199 TVs, it is pretty much impossible to miss the game, or games. Then there is the gargantuan screen in the centre of the main viewing area, touted as the largest indoor HDTV in North America. What we were even more impressed by was the possibility of a continuous viewing experience. In the men’s bathroom, there were three TVs in the common areas, and one screen over every urinal. Even the smokers outside could watch the game on the giant screen mounted on the wall of the ACC. Very smart for overflow and the folks who will eventually sit on the still-being-built patio.

The Captain’s Chairs: There’s a move that I saw dudes make as soon they got upstairs and beheld the row of brown leather single-seat loungers arranged directly across from the giant screen. It was a hands-open gesture signaling, “Whoa, check this out,” which constituted a colour-me-impressed signal to their buddies. These seats are going to be a coveted spot to watch major sporting events in relative splendour, and something that will absolutely require early arrival to snag.

Design: Unlike most sports bars, there actually is very little sports paraphernalia in the place. It really has much more of a feel of a classy Vegas sports book, with its dark, almost swanky interior. But other than a few foosball tables, it’s really just a place to eat, drink and watch the games. The place was packed for this week’s World Cup semifinal games, but we wonder if it will feel cavernous and lonely when it’s less than half full. We loved the upstairs section, although the private “Player’s Club” VIP section in the middle of the bar should be permitted as further real estate for us regular types, when the section is empty and people need seats.

Buying a championship: Is this Toronto’s best sports bar? It’s definitely on a scale that this city hasn’t seen before, particularly downtown. That’s thanks, of course, to the corporate dollars of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which already has a virtual monopoly on this town’s sports teams. So it’s not entirely fair to compare this behemoth to many of the much smaller, cozier spots — the Queen & Beaver’s second floor is a lovely place to watch a game — but sports fanatics will find it hard not to be wowed by MLSE’s addition to its empire. The place is also a bit expensive, but that’s not much of a surprise — it looks like several million bucks. The only other complaint is a setting that can feel a little soulless, but that’s quickly taken care of by hundreds of screaming fans who lose their minds when they see a goal broadcast on 199 screens.

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